Minnesota Humanities Center

Eagan - We Are Water MN
2022-10-13 - 2022-12-05 | Lebanon Hills Visitor Center, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, MN, 55123, United States
Free with Admission
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Dakota County
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Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
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POSTPONED - Austin - Poetry in the Parks
2022-10-15 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Austin Public Library, 323 4th Avenue Northeast, Austin, MN, 55912, United States
What does nature mean to you? Students in grades 5-8 are invited to join Minnesota’s Poet Laureate Gwen Westerman and fellow poet Michael Torres* for a daylong writing workshop at Minnesota State Parks. Alongside the poets, students will explore the beauty of nature and write their own poems. Students will receive instruction and encouragement to write in their home languages as well as English.
Each workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and has space for 20 students in grades 5 – 8 (academic year 2022-23). Pens and notebooks will be provided, and students will be given prompts in advance. Refreshments will include morning and afternoon snacks and lunch.
Bus transportation will be provided from Austin Public Library to Myre Big Island State Park.
*At select locations

St. Paul - Armed With Language: Film Talk
2022-10-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Plank Museum and Visitors Center at Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55111, United States
In the height of WWII, Historic Ft. Snelling was home to a little-known Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS). Thousands of Nisei men and women (second generation Japanese Americans) were trained as linguists and translators and played a crucial role in helping the U.S. to end the war. They served in the U.S. military despite the fact that tens of thousands of Americans of Japanese descent were being imprisoned in concentration camps for the supposed security risk they posed to the country.
Their story is shared in the 2021 TPT documentary, Armed With Language. Join producer Katie O’Rourke as she engages the film’s writer David Mura, and Karen Tanaka Lucas who is featured in the film, in a reflective conversation, a year on from its debut. Along with viewing some of the film footage, Katie, David and Karen will explore why this history has remained so hidden from public knowledge, their personal stories and connections with MISLS, and the complicated histories that intertwine at the site of Historic Ft. Snelling. The conversation will end with a Q&A session with audience members.
Hosted by Historic Ft. Snelling, in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, TPT Twin Cities, and the Twin Cities Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). This is a free event.
Registration
Doors of the Plank Museum and Visitors Center at Historic Fort Snelling will open at 5:15 p.m.; the event will begin at 6:00 p.m.in the Event Space on the second floor; audience members are invited to bring their curiosity and questions to share with the speakers.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

POSTPONED - Worthington - Poetry in the Parks
2022-10-29 10:00 - 16:00 | Nobles County Library, 407 12th Street, Worthington, MN, 56187, United States
Poetry in the Parks has been postponed. Please check back for updated offerings.
What does nature mean to you? Students in grades 5-8 are invited to join Minnesota’s Poet Laureate Gwen Westerman and fellow poet Michael Torres* for a daylong writing workshop at Minnesota State Parks. Alongside the poets, students will explore the beauty of nature and write their own poems. Students will receive instruction and encouragement to write in their home languages as well as English.
Each workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and has space for 20 students in grades 5 – 8 (academic year 2022-23). Pens and notebooks will be provided, and students will be given prompts in advance. Refreshments will include morning and afternoon snacks and lunch.
Bus transportation will be provided from Nobles County Library to Blue Mound State Park.
*At select locations

Online - Teaching Bdote
2022-11-05 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
Teaching Bdote: Tools for Teaching American Indian Content is designed for educators who have attended, or are planning to attend, Learning from Place: Bdote. This workshop is especially useful for developing unique classroom content to align with Minnesota State Social Studies Standards.
Offered in collaboration with Saint Paul Public Schools, this workshop will address the concerns and anxieties that non-indigenous educators may have around teaching Dakota content. A panel of teachers will share their experiences and learnings of leading their own Bdote tours with students. Educators will leave with new resources and content, deeper understanding, and ideas for how to lead a Bdote trip or to bring the experience into the classroom.
Teaching Bdote will be facilitated and presented by Ramona Kitto Stately, Ethan Neerdaels, and the Saint Paul Public Schools Center for Equity and Culture.
Registration
To ensure that cost is not a barrier, we have a limited number of complimentary spaces available for Minnesota residents. If you would like to receive a complimentary spot, please register with the promo code FEEWAIVER (must be a Minnesota resident).
If you are a Saint Paul Public Schools educator, please register with promo code SPPS22.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
Registration Deadline: Friday, November 4, 2022
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Objects of War: A Storytelling Circle
2022-11-05 10:30 - 12:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join the Minnesota Humanities Center on Saturday, November 5 at 10:30 a.m. for a storytelling circle centered around “Objects of War.” Whether dog tags of a family member lost in service, a good luck charm kept by a soldier, or a family heirloom that traveled across the world by a refugee, objects can hold deep meaning for those who have been impacted by war.
Participants are invited to bring their own object to share that helps them tell the story of their own connection to war, whether direct or indirect. Moderated by a Veteran and a refugee, the conversation will examine why we hold on to certain material objects, and how they can help us better understand the human experience of war. Noted photographer Xavier Tavera will be on hand to photograph interested participants with their objects. Co-sponsored by the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans.
Registration
Registration is required for this free event. Open to the public; lunch will be provided.
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Learning in Community: Hmong St. Paul
2022-11-12 09:00 - 13:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
There are nearly 300,000 Asian Minnesotans, more than 5% of our state’s population. Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese make up about 60% of the Asian population in Minnesota. Build your cultural understanding and awareness as you immerse yourself within St. Paul’s vibrant Hmong community through an interactive, in-person experience. The day will begin and end at the Minnesota Humanities Center. We will travel by bus to Hmong Cultural Center’s new storefront museum for a tour and special presentation. We will then visit the iconic HmongTown Marketplace (a market of 125 small businesses and food vendors) where we will be greeted by the owner to learn about his story and have a guided tour of the market. There will be time for independent shopping and lunch.
This is a collaboration with Hmong Cultural Center and HmongTown Marketplace.
Space is limited to 50 participants.
K-12 educators will receive 4 clock hours.
Please note: Registration cost does not include food. Participants are encouraged to support the financial recovery of small businesses by making purchases from the businesses they learn about on the tour. We recommend bringing cash, as not all vendors accept credit cards.
Registration
Members of Minnesota’s Hmong community are welcome to register using promo code HMONGSTPAUL to waive the fee if they wish.
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy

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Bemidji - Treaties, Strategies, and Traditionalism
2022-11-29 12:00 - 13:30 | American Indian Resource Center, Bemidji State University, 1630 Birchmont Dr NE, Bemidji, MN, 56601, United States
This talk foregrounds Indigenous perspectives, specifically those of the Anishinaabeg of Minnesota and Quebec, on treaty signing, economic activities, and the seasonal round. Comparing Native and White perspectives on treaty signing throws into sharp relief the divergent understandings, cultural differences, and foreclosed opportunities that characterized these encounters. Participants will examine petitions and treaties from the mid- and late nineteenth centuries and put them in conversation with newer scholarship that emphasizes the Native perspective and a contextual approach to analysis. This presentation will also encourage participants to consider the importance of how we interpret these petitions and treaties in terms of writing an accurate and more comprehensive history as well as their juridical implications in front of a conservative U.S. Supreme Court that has recently veered decidedly to the right.
Raised in Massachusetts, Dr. Dennis Fisher is a descendant of Algonquin and Nipissing Anishinaabeg from Quebec. He was taught by his late mentor Stan Dumont Whiteduck and Elders at Kitigan Zibi — the largest and oldest Algonquin reserve in Canada. He is a veteran and served as an emergency room medic in the United States Air Force. He holds a PhD in History as well as a doctoral graduate portfolio in Native American and Indigenous Studies. He has recently had an article published in American Indian Quarterly titled, “War, Wampum, and Recognition: Algonquin Transborder Political Activism During the Early Twentieth Century, 1919-1931.” He is currently under contract with the University of British Columbia Press to publish his upcoming work, To Not Sell One Perch: Algonquin Politics and Culture at Kitigan Zibi During the Twentieth Century. He has previously taught at White Earth Tribal and Community College and is currently Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies at Bemidji State University.
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Minnesota Writers Series: The Latitude of a Mercy
2022-12-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Poet Stefan Lovasik is the next featured author in our new Minnesota Writers Series. Lovasik, a Viet Nam combat veteran, has published three poetry collections. His most recent, The Latitude of a Mercy, was published by New York Quarterly Books. His work has appeared in national magazines such as American Literary Review, Consequence and New York Quarterly. He is a facilitator for Warrior Writers-Twin Cities and a staff editor for Pedestal Magazine. Lovasik’s work brings into striking focus the landscape of war; the lasting physical, moral and psychological consequences of it; and the resilience of the human spirit. He will discuss his latest collection, the power of writing as a tool for healing, and his work on his upcoming memoir. Introducing the poet and doing her own reading will be fellow Veteran Chante Wolfe, who is part of a Warriors Writers group with Lovasik.
Co-sponsored by Veterans For Peace.
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Online - Woman Life Freedom (3 part series)
2023-01-18 17:30 - 19:30, 2023-01-25 17:30 - 19:30, 2023-02-01 17:30 - 19:30 | Online
Illustration by Roshi Rouzbehani
*$30 is the fee for all three sessions. Participants must attend all three sessions.
This winter, MHC will be hosting a timely virtual course, Woman, Life, Freedom: The Iranian Women’s Revolution in Transnational Context, with Dr. Yalda Hamidi from Minnesota State University-Mankato. The Iranian Feminist Movement of the moment is the first female-led movement in the Middle East and the world, which received global support and transnational solidarities, and incited several national and regional feminist resistance movements in Afghanistan, Turkey, India, and more. Understanding this movement can change our knowledge of the “other women” and how we perceive them in America and will challenge how we locate our feminist demand here in Minnesota.
This virtual course will meet for three weeks, and participants will learn more about Iranian history and culture, women’s rights in Iran, and the current women’s revolution, using pre-assigned readings and primary resources to guide their discussions. Key speakers will also be involved in each session to contribute their perspectives and engage participants in conversation.
Yalda Hamidi (She/Her/Hers) is an Assistant Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies at Minnesota State University Mankato and a member of the Ms. Committee of Scholars. She identifies as a teacher, mentor, storyteller, sister, and auntie. At MNSU Mankato, Yalda teaches transnational feminism, feminist pedagogy, and queer identities courses. In her research, she writes about the importance of politics of location for understanding the feminism/s of non-white and non-Western women. Yalda’s non-academic work strives to share the stories of Iranian women championing and fighting intersectional systems of oppression.
View Full Bio
Schedule:
January 18, 2023 – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
January 25, 2023 – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
February 1, 2023 – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Registration
*$30 is the fee for all three sessions. If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org.
Participants must attend all three sessions. Educators will receive 6 CEUs for this course. All are welcome to participate.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Minnesota Writers Series: The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself Book Launch
2023-02-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us in celebrating the release of David Mura’s new book, “The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself: Racial Myths and Our American Narratives”, released in January of 2023 by University of Minnesota Press. Following a reading of selections from the new book, Mura will be joined by best-selling author and President of Innocent Technologies Alexs Pate for a discussion on the issues of race, history and education. A book signing will follow the talk. Part of the Minnesota Writers Series. Co-sponsored by University of Minnesota Press.
About the book: From the country’s founding through the summer of Black Lives Matter in 2020, Mura’s new book unmasks how white stories about race attempt to erase the brutality of the past and underpin systemic racism in the present. Mura shows how deeply we need to change our racial narratives to dissolve the myth of Whiteness and fully acknowledge the experiences of Black Americans. Poet Douglas Kearney has said of Mura’s new book that it “offers what so many Americans claim they want: a rigorous education in perceiving themselves stripped of their dearest myths.”
About the author: David Mura is a poet, writer of creative nonfiction and fiction, critic, and playwright. He is author of “A Stranger’s Journey: Race, Identity, and Narrative Craft in Writing” and the memoirs “Turning Japanese: Memoirs of a Sansei” and “Where the Body Meets Memory: An Odyssey of Race, Sexuality, and Identity”. He is coeditor, with Carolyn Holbrook, of “We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World” (2021). He lives in Minneapolis.
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required.
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Onamia and Online – Dakota and Ojibwe Languages Symposium
2023-02-09 08:00 - 2023-02-10 17:00 | Grand Casino Mille Lacs, 777 Grand Avenue, Onamia, MN, 56359, United States
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council’s Language Revitalization Working Group, partnering with the Minnesota Humanities Center, is hosting a two-day Dakota & Ojibwe Languages Symposium! The goal of the symposium is to bring people working in Dakota & Ojibwe language revitalization together. We want to use this time to celebrate successes of what some groups have done in the past, highlight what is currently going on in the field, and help shape future language revitalization efforts. We also want to elevate the visibility of Indigenous languages throughout the state of Minnesota. By bringing people together, we hope this symposium serves as an opportunity for individuals to network with other Dakota & Ojibwe language professionals. The event will be in-person and broadcasted virtually!
Breakfast and lunch are included for those attending in person. Participants are responsible for booking overnight accommodations if needed (rooms are available at Grand Casino Mille Lacs). CEU’s are available for educators attending the symposium.
To submit your proposal to lead a presentation or activity, complete the online form. Proposals are being reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Latine Hxstory and the Xican@ Pop-Up Book Movement
2023-02-11 09:00 - 15:30 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
This workshop will introduce teachers to the Xican@ Pop-Up Book (XPUB) movement that was developed by Dr. Elias Serna and John Avalos Rios as a response to the dismantling of the Mexican American Studies (MAS) Department in Tucson, Arizona. Participants will learn about the hxstorical significance of the XPUB movement in teaching hxstory in US schools that improves academics for Latine students, as well as associated controversies. In group discussion and hands-on activities, teachers will learn about incorporating the XPUB framework to teach Latine history and topics that are important to the community but are often left out of school curriculum, such as the 1968 East L.A. Walkouts, and the landmark case Mendez v. Westminster. Participants will also have an opportunity to explore how to use the pop-up book framework broadly in their classroom to transform curriculum and increase student engagement.
Scholar definitions:
*Hxstory is used to acknowledge the untold hxstories and the collective push to reclaim the lost
**The Xican@ Pop Up book (XPUB) Framework was designed to teach history and stories from students and community perspectives
***Latine is used instead of the Spanish use of masculine “o,” to include people of all genders
Scholar and Teacher Kleber Ortiz, Latino immigrant from Ecuador, is an instructor in the School of Education at Minneapolis College and adjunct professor at Hamline University. He has worked in the Education field for over 15 years, his teaching experiences include middle school, high school, post secondary, curriculum development and teacher professional development, planning and implementation. He has lead workshops at various events that focus on Ethnic Studies, Equity, Latine History, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Critical Literacy and closing the Opportunity Gap.
Lead Teacher Natalia Benjamin taught high school Ethnic Studies and Multilingual Learners in Rochester, MN for 7 years where she currently works as the Coordinator for Multilingual Learning. She is dually licensed in K-12 ESL and reading, and was named the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Natalia is passionate about the liberation of marginalized students and focuses on advocacy for multilingual/multicultural education, identity work, Heritage Speakers, language justice, and student-centered humanizing pedagogies. She is committed to teacher development and teaches a course for educators on Race and Ethnic Studies in Heritage/Bilingual education at UW-Whitewater as a guest professor.
Registration
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering. Members of Minnesota’s Latino/a/x/e community are welcome to register using promo code LATINE to waive the fee if they wish.
K-12 educators will receive 6 clock hours.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Feeding Our Souls: The Essence of Black Joy
2023-02-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Engage in the cultural richness of food, music, and stories that define the essence of Black joy. Experience generations of family Creole recipes prepared by Chef Mateo Mackbee, Owner of Krewe Restaurant in St. Joseph, MN to soulful healthy roots and blackeye peas prepared by Chef Lachelle Cunningham of North Minneapolis. Special music will be provided by Twin Cities’ vocalist, Ginger Commodore.
Chef Mateo Mackbee is a multiple award-winning chef whose restaurant Krewe, located in St. Joseph, MN, was recently selected by Minneapolis Star Tribune as one of the 4 Best Restaurants worthy of traveling. Although raised in Minnesota, Mackbee’s childhood summers always included several hot steamy weeks in his mother’s hometown visiting relatives and experiencing Creole and New Orleans style food while learning to love its local foods, culture, music, and sense of community.
Chef Lachelle Cunningham is a dynamic force on the Twin Cities’ food scene and is known for cooking globally inspired comfort food that thwarts unhealthy stereotypes and fuses in global flavors. She is owner of Chelles’ Kitchen Catering, the founding Executive Chef of Breaking Bread Cafe in North Minneapolis. Her most recent creation is Healthy Roots Institute with a mission focused on healing and social justice through food education, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship.
Ginger Commodore is a Twin Cities’ vocalist, songwriter, and actress. She performs jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, contemporary, and gospel music with regular appearances at The Dakota Jazz Club and Crooners Supper Club. Her theater work includes Penumbra Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Minnesota Opera, The Capri Theater, and more. Recently she debuted as Musical Director for the musical “Memphis” at Bloomington Center for the Arts.
Registration
Due to the focus of this program, the fee is waived for Black community members residing in Minnesota. You are invited to register with promo code COMMUNITY23.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Mankato and Online - Transnational Feminism, Solidarity, and Care for #WomanLifeFreedom
2023-02-28 15:00 - 17:00 | Ostrander Auditorium – Minnesota State University – Mankato, 540 W Road, Mankato, MN, 56001, United States
Recent events and protests in Iran have catapulted human rights and feminist issues onto the world stage, and yet these movements in Iran are not new. Join Dr. Yalda Hamidi (Minnesota State University, Mankato) and special guest panelists Prof. Ibtesam Al Atiyat (St. Olaf College) and Ph.D. student and human rights lawyer Tahmina Sobat (University of Minnesota) as they reflect on the Iranian feminist revolution of 2022 and the politics of solidarity, care, and transnational feminism. This event will be held both virtually and in-person on campus.
Prior to a panel discussion, each scholar will discuss how the current women’s revolution in Iran aligns with their own research. Dr. Hamidi will consider Iranian diasporic feminism/s and how her participation and engagement with the Green Movement of 2009 shapes her understanding of the current unfolding feminist revolution. Dr. Al Atiyat will share examples of Arab women’s solidarity with Iranian women and share reflections on the limits that have surfaced. Finally, Ph.D. student Tahmina Sobat will discuss Afghan women’s longstanding advocacies against imperialism and war, noting the possibilities and perils of transnational feminist solidarities regarding the situation in Iran.
Co-sponsored by the Women’s Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Panelists
Yalda Hamidi (She/Her/Hers) is an Assistant Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies at Minnesota State University Mankato and a member of the Ms. Committee of Scholars. She identifies as a teacher, mentor, storyteller, sister, and auntie. At MNSU Mankato, Yalda teaches transnational feminism, feminist pedagogy, and queer identities courses. In her research, she writes about the importance of politics of location for understanding the feminism/s of non-white and non-Western women. Yalda’s non-academic work strives to share the stories of Iranian women championing and fighting intersectional systems of oppression.
Ibtesam Al Atiyat is a professor of sociology, and the director of the Enduring Questions Program at St. Olaf College. She is the author of “The Jordanian Women’s Movement: Activism, Strategies and Discourses”, published by Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Berlin) in 2004, and the editor of “The Uprisings and Gender Equity in the Arab World” published by the Kettering Foundation, the Arab Network for the Study of Democracy, and the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy at the American University of Beirut in 2017.
Tahmina Sobat is a women’s human rights lawyer from Afghanistan. She holds a law degree from Herat University of Afghanistan, an LLM degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master’s degree in Gender and Women Studies through the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is currently working on her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota where her thesis will examine “The Role of Grassroots Feminism in Demilitarization and Peace-Building in Afghanistan.”
Registration
For those coming from off campus, please indicate when registering if you will need a parking voucher.
If you plan to join remotely please indicate so when registering.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
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Becker - We Are Water MN
2023-03-02 - 2023-04-24 | Sherburne History Center, 10775 27th Ave SE, Becker, 55308, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: The Mississippi River St. Cloud Watershed Collaborative
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
LEARN MORE

St. Paul - Headscarf Story Circle: Tea Gathering
2023-03-04 11:00 - 13:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) is excited to host Headscarf Story Circle, the first of a series of offerings that recognizes the strength and resiliency of women. Join us as we gather together through the shared connection of the headscarf and its complexity. This event features engaging activities that inspire perseverance, hope, and healing. Guests are encouraged to wear a headscarf or head dress that is symbolic of anything from a fashion statement, cultural identity, health related, or memories and beliefs.
The ritual of tea represents beauty, calm, and restorative elements. We are honored to have Rose McGee, founder of Headscarf Society TeaLit and a Humanities Officer at MHC, as tea host. This event features inspiring stories from eight intergenerational and culturally diverse women and heartfelt table conversations by all in attendance. Delicious hors d’oeuvres will be served with tea. Special music by guest harpist Heather Cornelius.
Registration
To ensure that cost is not a barrier, we have a limited number of complimentary spaces available for Minnesota residents. If you would like to receive a complimentary spot, please register with the promo code FEEWAIVER.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Walker - Why Treaties Matter
2023-03-13 - 2023-03-24 | Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School, 301 4th Street, Walker, MN, 56484, United States
“Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations”—a traveling exhibit made in partnership with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian—explores relationships between Dakota and Ojibwe Indian Nations and the U.S. government in this place we now call Minnesota.
Want to know more about Why Treaties Matter?
Learn more about the Why Treaties Matter exhibit and partnership.
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St. Paul - The Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks Film Screening
2023-03-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us for a screening of The Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks, featuring a discussion after the film moderated by Kevin Lindsey.
Jeanne Theoharis’s book was brought to life in June 2022 as a feature documentary that delves deep into civil rights icon Rosa Parks’ historic work and her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Through interviews with those who knew her, powerful archival footage and her own words, the film tells the story of Parks’ extensive organizing, radical politics and lifelong dedication to activism. Directors: Johanna Hamilton, Yoruba Richen. Editor: Èlia Gasull Balada
About the book:
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks blows away the myths we learned about the “tired seamstress” who gave up her seat on the bus. The only thing she was tired of was injustice.
Parks had an amazing life of activism going back to the 1930s, beginning with her concern about the Scottsboro Nine through the struggle in the South, and her work with Myles Horton at the Highlander Folk School, the bus boycott in Montgomery and then to Detroit where she lived more than half her life. She worked with the left, communists, socialists, the anti-war and black power movements, and had great admiration and respect for Malcolm X and Robert Williams.
Whatever we think we know about Rosa Parks, there is far more we do not know and will learn from this work. The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks is a must for teachers, parents, and grandparents, to undo the damaging myths that essentially began and ended her political life on December 1, 1955, frozen in time as Dr. King was on August 28, 1963. Most Americans are unaware of their anti-war and anti-capitalist views.
About Dr. Josie R. Johnson
Josie Robinson Johnson is an American community organizer and activist for African American rights. Described by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as the “First Lady of Minnesota Civil Rights,” she was instrumental in the success of a fair housing bill in Minnesota in 1962.
Dr. Josie Johnson continues to fight for and protect voting rights for Black Minnesotans. She often speaks of her efforts as building upon her ancestors’ struggles for freedom and civil rights. In Minneapolis, she worked as a community organizer for the Urban League and was active in the League of Women Voters, eventually becoming the first Black national board member.
In the national movement for civil rights, Johnson was in the official Minnesota delegation at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Through the Wednesdays in Mississippi movement, she traveled to Mississippi to support efforts for racial justice, despite the possibility of retaliation from the Ku Klux Klan.
As a lobbyist, Johnson supported a fair housing bill by gathering evidence of housing discrimination affecting Black Minnesotans. She also played an integral role in the effort to pass the bill establishing the Fair Employment Practices Commission.
Johnson has always prioritized education. She founded the Junior Service League, a mentoring program that connected Black girls in junior high with professional Black women. At the University of Minnesota, she was the first Black woman on the Board of Regents and worked to create the African American Studies Program.
Registration
This event is free, but registration is required.
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Remembering - A Black Writers' Retreat
2023-03-25 09:00 - 15:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Since the pandemic overwhelmed the world, we have become saddled with grief, fear, and disillusionment stirred up by continuous violence, strife, and misunderstanding. Everywhere we turn, we are striving to counter despair with joyous living. This retreat will center around remembering as an act of joy that provides opportunities for healing and recovery in ways that forgetting does not.
To make the writing process accessible and enjoyable, Pamela Fletcher Bush (writer, creative writing teacher, editor, CEO & Publisher of Saint Paul Almanac) and Ebony Aya (founder of the Aya Collective, a space that centers the expertise and experience of Black women, and program manager at the Jan Serie Center for Scholarship and Teaching at Macalester College) will lead workshop participants in guided writing exercises and discussion on a journey of Remembering.
Special Minnesota guest author Michael Kleber-Diggs will share how using one’s unique voice sets the writer and reader on a journey of discovery.
This full-day writing retreat is being offered by In Black Ink in collaboration with the Minnesota Humanities Center. It is open to all members of the Black community, writers at all levels and nonwriters alike. Registration is limited to 40 participants.
Continental breakfast and lunch are included. A journal will be provided.
Registration
You are welcome to register using promo code COMMUNITY to waive the fee if you wish.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Minnesota Writers Series: Wild Things
2023-03-31 19:00 - 21:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us on Trans Day of Visibility for a conversation with author Lynette Reini-Grandell, author of “Wild Things: A Trans Glam Punk Rock Love Story,” in a deeply personal conversation with her trans spouse, Venus de Mars. The two will discuss the themes and stories in the book, which follows the two through the art, literary, and indie rock worlds of Minneapolis and New York in the 1990s and early 2000s as they learn, change, and grow together, navigating the transition, the communities they found, and the hostility they faced. Part of the Minnesota Writers Series. Sponsored by RECLAIM, whose mission is to increase access to mental health care so queer and trans youth may reclaim their lives from oppression in all its forms.
About the Author
Lynette Reini-Grandell is the author of “Wild Verge” (Holy Cow! Press, 2018), “Approaching the Gate” (Holy Cow! Press, 2014), and the forthcoming memoir, “Wild Things: A Trans Glam Punk Rock Love Story” (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2023). Other work has appeared in Alligator Juniper, The Understanding between Foxes and Light, Poetry Motel, Revolver, Poetry City U.S.A., and Seminary Ridge Review, among others. She has been nominated for a Pushcart and received grants for her work from the Finlandia Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board. She performs with the Bosso Poetry Company and the jazz/poetry collective Sonoglyph. Her work is often inspired by Finnish folk culture and song, and she frequently collaborates with Nordic Roots artists in multimedia performances. She lives in Minneapolis on the ancestral homeland of the Dakota people.
Registration
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Poetry Sparks!
2023-04-21 15:00 - 18:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
In celebration of National Poetry Month, join Minnesota’s Poet Laureate Gwen Westerman, at a poetry gathering just for poets. Hear about Gwen’s vision for poetry across the state, get connected to other poets, and let your creativity loose with some writing time. Stay after for a casual group meal, and we’ll send you home feeling inspired, centered, and reinvigorated. We’ll provide the pens and the paper – bring yourself and come Spark! poetry connection and creativity with us!
3:00 p.m. Event start
6:00 p.m. Event close/Dinner served
Registration
This event is free but registration is required. Dinner after the event will be provided. Please note that this event is for poets only.
COVID-19 Policy: to help keep our artists safe, all audience members are required to be masked inside the venue during the event regardless of vaccination status. Masks will not be required after the event while dinner is being served.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
Registration for this event has closed.
Want to know more about Minnesota’s Poet Laureate?
Learn more about Gwen Nell Westerman and the history of Minnesota’s Poet Laureate.

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Pine River - We Are Water MN
2023-04-27 - 2023-06-19 | Happy Dancing Turtle, 2331 Dancing Wind Rd SW, Ste 1, Pine River, MN, 56474, United States
The We Are Water MN traveling exhibit examines water issues statewide and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.
Host Partner: Happy Dancing Turtle
Want to know more about We Are Water MN?
Learn more about the We Are Water MN exhibit, partnership, and programs.
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St. Paul - Feeding Our Souls: The Essence of Asian Joy
2023-05-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join us as we commemorate Asian Cultural Heritage Month in May through food. Award-winning Chef Ann Ahmed, owner of Lat14 and Khâluna Restaurants, will prepare a few of her own authentic dishes. Anh-Hoa Nguyen, cultural food artist, poet, community activist, and educator will take audiences on a tasting journey of “rice.” These comfort foods will be served through Chef Ann and Anh-Hoa’s experiences from the richness of diverse Asian cultures. Special storytelling by award-winning artist and comedian Tou Ger Xiong. Participants will partake in the variety of flavors through “taste circles” and share memories of food from their own experiences.
Ánh-Hoa Thị Nguyễn, MFA is a refugee, poet, community artist, curator, educator and food scholar/writer. In 2018, she was the artist-in-residence for The Floating Library with her project Waves Enfolding: A Paper Memorial that honored lives lost during the Vietnamese refugee waves of 1954 and after the war in Vietnam and South East Asia, 1975-1992. Her most recent publication is a food essay titled Buy 10 Get 1 Free! Open Letter to Bánh Mì Wanna Be’s in “What We Hunger For: Refugee and Immigrant Stories about Food and Family” edited by Sun Yung Shin 신 선 영. Inspired by “What We Hunger For” Ánh-Hoa was also the artist-in-residence for Saint Paul Public Library’s 2022 Read Brave program where she created and curated an interactive community art installation called Recipes for Care that invited community members to share “recipes that ignite, shape, and support a community of care in their lives.” Ánh-Hoa is currently working on a food memoir with the Minnesota Historical Society Press and is a member of She Who Has No Master(s), a collective of women and gender-nonconforming writers of the Vietnamese diaspora.
Tou Ger Xiong (TOO-JUR-SHONG) was born in Laos in 1973. Since Xiong’s father served with the CIA, his family had to flee Laos after the communist takeover in 1975. Xiong’s family escaped across the border and sought refuge in a Thai refugee camp. After four years in the camp, Xiong’s family immigrated to the United States as refugees of war. Xiong’s childhood in America began in the public housing projects of St. Paul. In 1992, Xiong graduated valedictorian from Humboldt High School. He went on to receive a degree in political science from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. In 1996, Xiong created Project Respectism, an educational service project that uses comedy, storytelling and rap music to bridge cultures and generations. Since then, Project Respectism has evolved into a program that provides cultural entertainment and education for people of all professions and backgrounds. Xiong has taken his message about respect to 44 states in the past 12 years. He has given over 1,600 presentations nationwide to audiences of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, sometimes reaching as many as 10,000 people in a week. Xiong’s work as a Hmong artist and activist has been featured on national television, radio and newspaper. He has been quoted as “one of the most influential Hmong in America today.”
Chef Ann Ahmed’s love for cooking started at a very young age, working in the kitchen alongside her mother whenever she could. She and her family left her birth country of Laos when Ann was two years old. They lived in a Thai refugee camp until she was four, at which point they were sponsored by her great uncle to come live with him in Minnesota, which has been home ever since. Upon their arrival, her mother took multiple jobs to support their family. Because of her mom’s busy schedule, Ann rarely had time to spend with her, so whenever she was home, Ann was glued to her mother’s side, especially in the kitchen! This is where Ann’s love of cooking began. After graduating from high school, Ann shared with her mother her dream of owning a restaurant. She rejected the idea, explaining why life in the restaurant industry can be very difficult. Instead, she suggested Ann go to college and get a degree – in anything except culinary studies. As such, Ann moved to San Diego and attended San Diego State University, where she later earned a BA in Liberal Studies. One day, out of the blue, her mother called – she had gone on a walk that morning, saw a restaurant for sale, and asked if Ann would be interested. Of course, Ann instantly said YES! Ann’s mother was planning to attend Ann’s commencement that week, and instead, headed to the bank to start the process of buying the restaurant which is now Lemon Grass.
Thirteen years later, Ann opened her second restaurant, Lat14 Asian Eatery; inspired by her love of food and desire to share culture. Mostly, she wanted to cook the food that brings people together around the table. Lat14 Asian Eatery provides diners the opportunity to eat their way along the exciting, diverse 14th parallel – without the long airplane trip. Small, shareable plates are inspired by Chef Ann Ahmed’s connections to Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, and their neighboring countries, bringing their flavorful cuisines, ingredients, and cultural traditions, to deliver an exceptional culinary experience.
Registration
If cost is a barrier, please contact Jessica Rust at jessica@mnhum.org before registering. Due to the focus of this program, the fee is waived for Asian community members residing in Minnesota. You are invited to register with promo code COMMUNITY23.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Children's Book Week Celebration
2023-05-06 12:00 - 16:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Children’s literature is one of the first ways in which storytelling makes an impact in young humans’ lives, teaching them about the world they live in and the power of their own imagination, and celebrating what makes us all both similar and unique. Join the Minnesota Humanities Center for a celebration on the lawn honoring Children’s Book Week, with guest author readings, book art workshops, story walks, games, crafts, book sales, food trucks, and special giveaways. Authors and book illustrators joining include Diane Wilson, Sun Yung Shin 신 선 영, Shannon Gibney, John Coy, Marian Hassan, Magdalena Mora, Remona Htoo, and Dr. Artika Tyner. ARTrageous will also be setting up a Creation Station for kids and kids at heart to make their own bookmarks, and Babycakes Book Stack bus will also be on site selling books. In partnership with Diverse Reads and AMPACT.
Story Time Schedule
12:00 p.m. – My Daddy Tells Me with Thuba Nguyen
12:30 p.m. – Somali folktales with Marian Hassan
1:00 p.m. – Magdalena Mora
1:30 p.m. – My Little Legs with Remona Htoo
2:00 p.m. – Where We Come From with John Coy, Shannon Gibney, Sun Yung Shin, and Diane Wilson
2:30 p.m. – Sam and the Incredible African and American Food Fight with Shannon Gibney
3:00 p.m. – Joey and Grandpa Johnson’s Day in Rondo with Dr. Artika Tyner
Registration
Registration is appreciated but not required for this event.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

St. Paul - Headscarf Story Circle: The Gift
2023-05-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Minnesota Humanities Event Center, 987 Ivy Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) is excited to host Headscarf Story Circle – a series of four offerings that recognizes the strength and resiliency of women. Join us as we gather together through the shared connection of the headscarf and its complexity. Events feature engaging activities that inspire perseverance, hope and healing. Guests are encouraged to wear a headscarf or head dress that is symbolic of anything from a fashion statement, cultural identity, health related, or memories, and beliefs.
Our first session, held in March, included inspiring stories and conversation over tea. Our second session is centered around “The Gift.” Participants are encouraged to bring an object that is symbolic of their own personal life lesson, acquired strength, or journey of resiliency – such as a book, food item, photo, or cultural piece. Or they may choose to offer something intangible such as a song, poem, or dance. Each person will share a story of the item they are gifting. Then each listener will select a gift based upon the story that most impacts them. The object itself may be one that is given or can be returned to the owner at the end of the experience. Through the act of gift sharing, participants will leave feeling connected and uplifted.
A breakfast buffet with live music will be available from 8:30-9:00 only. The program will begin at 9:00.
We want to thank the following community ambassadors and supporters:
African American Leadership Forum, CAPI, Centro Tyrone Guzman, Coalition of Asian American Leaders, Hmong American Partnership, LatinoLead, LinkingLeaders, Minnesota Women’s Press, Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment, SEWA (to serve in Hindi)-Asian Indian Family Wellness, Somali Community Resettlement Services, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie, Tiwahe Foundation, and Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
Registration
To ensure that cost is not a barrier, we have a limited number of complimentary spaces available for Minnesota residents. If you would like to receive a complimentary spot, please register with the promo code FEEWAIVER.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | MHC Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Online - True Tuesdays: Youth Voice in Decision-Making with Minnesota Youth Council (MYC)
2023-05-16 14:30 - 16:00 | Online
Did you know that Minnesota youth are the only youth in the nation that have an official voice in legislation? Join us on May 16th to learn about the four key initiatives of the Minnesota Youth Council (MYC) and the work they have done this legislative session in pursuit of a just and equitable Minnesota.
The MYC envisions a state that prioritizes the agency and voice of young people from all backgrounds. The MYC is a collaborative of youth leaders that works to amplify the voice and power of their peers across the state of Minnesota. These young leaders are the go-to group in Minnesota for elevating and championing youth voice in decision-making. Members of the MYC are change agents in their communities and across the state, leading the way with youth-centered systems change. The Council is comprised of 8th-12th graders representing each congressional district in Minnesota and provides guidance to the legislature, governor, and Department of Education on issues affecting young people.
Registration
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED

Minneapolis and Online - Westminster Town Hall Forum: Arc Toward Justice 2023
2023-05-20 18:00 - 20:30 | Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55403, United States
Join renowned philosopher and social critic Dr. Cornel West and social impact strategist and professional disruptor Ifeoma Ike in Minneapolis in a collaborative event with our partners Westminster Town Hall Forum and Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. Minnesota Public Radio Host Angela Davis will serve as our moderator for the “ARC Toward Justice” event.
West has written 20 books and he is best known for the classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. Dr. West’s most recent book, Black Prophetic Fire, offers an unflinching look at nineteenth and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies. He is the former Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University.
Ike has co-engineered Just Leadership USA and Mass Bail Out NYC efforts as well as the formation of three congressional caucuses: Caucus on Black Men and Boys, Caucus on Black Women and Girls, and Caucus on Black Innovation. As a movement lawyer, Ike has been a policy advisor regarding human rights violations in Haiti, mistreatment of Afro-Columbians, and non-consent medical practices in Africa.
Following the thought-provoking conversation by our celebrated speakers Dr. West and Ms. Ike of telling the truth and bearing witness to love and justice, attendees will have an opportunity to continue the conversation with fellow attendees to create the beloved community and ensure that the moral arc of the universe continues to bend toward justice.
Livestream
This event will be available via livestream on May 20 on the Westminster Town Hall Forum website and Facebook page.
Registration
This event is free and open to all.
There is no ticketing or registration. Seating at Westminster is on a first-come, first seated basis. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. Music by Singers Of This Age at 5:30 p.m. Forum will begin at 6:00 p.m.
